STORRS -- It took former Torrington High quarterback Chris DeBerry a while to get settled in college, but now he believes he is truly where he wants to be: back home in Connecticut ready to be part of what he expects to be an exciting team at UConn.

After starting his college career at Bowling Green in Kentucky 2010, he transferred to Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. Then last year, DeBerry enrolled at UConn for the spring semester and joined the football team as a walk-on. He went through spring practice but then was forced to leave the team to tend to personal and family issues at home.

He never really wanted to give up football, however, and when he resolved all his issues off the field he asked Coach Paul Pasqualoni if he could rejoin the team. Pasqualoni graciously allowed him back, although most likely not as a quarterback.

He's just happy to be back. Growing up in Connecticut, he said it is an honor to be playing for the state university.

"I had some eligibility issues and family matters to deal with at home, but I am very happy to be back," DeBerry said. "I am blessed for this opportunity. Honestly my role is to be a utility guy. I am here to help everybody. I was calling signals. I was playing quarterback in the spring. Now I am playing receiver. I could still end up somewhere else, but I am just trying to help the team out."

Former Torrington High coach Dan Dunaj, who coached DeBerry his junior and senior seasons, expects him to do very well at UConn.

"He works really hard, and I could see him taking advantage of every opportunity he gets," Dunaj said. "He was a fantastic kid when we had him at Torrington, a great student, a great player and a great leader. We couldn't ask for anything more."

DeBerry said he didn't hesitate to return even though he knew there were eight other quarterbacks on the roster. He enjoyed his experience in the spring and believes the Huskies have the potential to be a very good team this season. He just wanted to be part of it.

"I'm more excited than ever, because I am back playing football," DeBerry said. "I didn't think I would ever get the opportunity to play again. It is a really nice feeling. The coaches put me at a position I haven't really ever played, but it is a good thing they have faith in my athleticism. And I'm excited to be here playing on a team with a bunch of good guys. It's going to be fun."

Dunaj said that while DeBerry's natural position may have been quarterback in high school, he could easily see him excelling at something else at UConn.

"He is an athlete who is good at multi-positions and good at different sports," Dunaj said. "He was very successful in both track and basketball at high school. His junior and senior years at Torrington he played cornerback one year and free safety the other. He was also our returnman in the kicking game so he is very versatile. He has made the team at UConn and he is in camp. Once you do that you have a shot to do anything."

Fan friendly football: For UConn fans who want to get a look at the team prior to the season, Pasqualoni has opened three practices to the public, starting with today's practice from 3-5:30 p.m.

The other two open practices will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 13 (3-5:30 p.m.) and Saturday, Aug. 17 (8:45-11:15 a.m.). Practices are held on the field up the hill behind old Memorial Stadium. Access can be gained off Alumni Drive. Enter Parking Lot D, which will offer free parking for the practices.

In the event of inclement weather, please check online at UConnHuskies.com for updates.

The replacements: One of the key questions going into this season is how the Huskies could possibly improve despite losing six very talented starters on defense in cornerbacks Dwayne Gratz and Blidi Wreh-Wilson, defensive linemen Trevardo Williams and Ryan Wirth, and linebackers Jory Johnson and Sio Moore.

"I like the guys that we have that are going to replace the guys that we lost," Pasqualoni said. "I think Graham Stewart, Jefferson Ashiru and Ryan Donohue will do a good job at replacing those linebackers that we lost. I think Byron Jones will really help us replace one of the corners and between Taylor Mack and Jhavon Williams we will be pretty solid at the other corner. Those are big areas."

He said one of the most difficult things to replace will be the leadership of Wirth, but he likes the talent ready to step in on the defensive line.

"I think Julian Campenni came back in great shape stronger than he has ever been," Pasqualoni said. "And Andreas (Knappe) has come back in great shape for a 6-9, 300-pound guy. He has come a long way in a year so he may be able to help us in there.

"We have a lot of work to do, but I am optimistic that the guys that have to step up are going to accept the responsibility and step up."

Relatively healthy: The Huskies opened camp Friday in very good shape compared to the spring when a plethora of players were injured and sat out the spring game. Saturday brought some bad news as Scott McCummings, moved from quarterback to wide receiver, ruptured an Achilles' tendon and has been lost for the season.

Overall, however, the Huskies are doing well in terms of injuries, or lack thereof.

Pasqualoni slowly worked linebacker Yawin Smallwood back into things with a role on the second-team defense, and he let defensive lineman Jesse Joseph get right back at it.

"He is running full speed," Pasqualoni said. "Name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. We just have to make sure that nothing flares up. Jesse is like 48 years old playing this game. He is like an old man. If we can keep him healthy, he is a player. He has a ton of snaps under his belt. He has that tough edge to him and that competitiveness to him. He along with a guy like Shamar Stephen who has played a lot of football, those guys do nothing but help you."

With a running game in need of a few guys able to step up and take the load off of undersized and overused Lyle McCombs, Pasqualoni was happy to see Martin Hypolite back in action at training camp.

"I was worried about Martin (Friday), but I asked him toward the end how he was, and he said, 'Coach I'm fine,'" Pasqualoni said. "It looked like he cut well. It wasn't bothering him so that is a big plus for us."

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